Who are we?

The leadership that makes up the “tip of the spear” of this campaign is the Executive Board (aka PAC Board), which consists entirely of Renton Residents & Renton Workers. We believe change happens only when the community has a direct stake in the creation and culmination of policy—so we built this campaign’s leadership around the strong and unwavering value that Rentonites know what Rentonites need. Supporting this campaign is a supportive body of steering committee members from all over our region who contribute their expertise and energy to run the day-to-day operations of the campaign alongside an incredible collective of supervolunteers who keep the lights on!

It is our leadership style to ensure that the most underrepresented voices in Renton are heard front and center. We commit to making this both our theory and our practice for running a holistic campaign.

The Raise The Wage Renton Executive Board

  • Guillermo Zazueta

    BOARD CHAIR

    Guillermo Zazueta (he/him) is Chair of Raise the Wage Renton and a local community organizer. As a near-lifelong Renton resident growing up in the Renton Highlands, Guillermo’s upbringing living in an immigrant, working-class family with many relatives working in low-wage positions such as childcare, healthcare and education speaks to his passion in ensuring a livable wage for his local community. Guillermo’s past work experience includes the 2020 Census as Lead Enumerator, King County Prop. 1: Conservation Futures Levy as Campaign Manager & Stephanie Gallardo’s 2022 Campaign for Congress as Field Director.

  • Julianna Dauble

    BOARD TREASURER

    Julianna Dauble (she/her) has been a classroom teacher in Renton School District since 2001. She’s currently serving a third year as the Renton Education Association (union) President which means she advocates for safety and supports for all teachers, counselors, nurses, therapists, deans and instructional facilitators in Renton School District. Born in Renton herself, she has two children who graduated from Renton schools as did her own parents! Julianna has does political advocacy for many organizations, trains educators on lobbying and political action, worked for an education policy think tank and serves on numerous boards of directors for education and labor groups. She believes that building worker solidarity is the path forward for liberation and a sustainable future for all and that students need families with secure income to achieve the promises of public education.

  • Michael Westgaard

    BOARD DIRECTOR

    Micheal Westgaard (he/him) is a Renton resident, active in his workplace as a shop steward, and steering committee member. Micheal believes that raising the minimum wage is important because it will give people some relief that are stuck in low wage jobs and that with that piece of mind will be able to have some more time home with family, participate in movement building, or just enjoy not working as much. Michael thinks the most critical part of the initiative is the adjustment with inflation so workers don’t have to suffer through 40 years of wage stagnation again.

  • Bobby Lambertz

    BOARD DIRECTOR

    Bobby Lambertz (he/him) is a high school math teacher in the Renton School District in the middle of his sixth year at Albert Talley Sr. High School. He has served as a representative to the Renton Education Association and the Martin Luther King County Labor Council. Bobby wants to raise the minimum wages because his current and past students work to support themselves and their families. One job should be enough. He is a proud member of DSA, musician, math enthusiast, and father to a one year old.

  • Tai Kaku

    BOARD DIRECTOR

    Tai Kaku (he/him) is a Renton resident and member of the Steering Committee for Raise the Wage Renton. As an educator in the city of Renton, he has seen how the rise in housing has driven many families out of the community. By raising the minimum wage, Tai believes this can help keep families in the Renton community.

  • Ellie Robertshaw

    BOARD DIRECTOR

    Ellie Robertshaw (she/her) is a Renton resident and a member of the Political Action Committee for Raise the Wage Renton. Ellie primarily does signature gathering and get out the vote work. She supports raising the minimum wage because pay below $19/hr is insufficient for anyone working in the current Renton economy.

  • E. Bailey Medilo

    BOARD DIRECTOR

    Bailey Medilo (any prns) is a youth organizer and South King County organizer who grew up in the Renton area and graduated from Renton High School in 2023. They are currently serving as a board member for this campaign and as a branding consultant for Raise The Wage Renton. They see this initiative as a desperately needed policy in order to support the countless working youth in the city of Renton.

Steering Committee Members

  • Maria Abando

    FUNDRAISING CHAIR

    Maria Abando's organizing journey began where she grew up in Tacoma, and expanded from student advocacy, to initiative petitioning, fundraising, nonprofit programs, voting justice work, and electoral campaigns from the local to federal level. She joins the Raise the Wage Renton Steering Committee with a deep understanding of the struggle to make ends meet, and a fierce determination to work towards a Renton where that struggle is a rarity and all can thrive.

  • Kryss Mann

    SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH CHAIR

    Krysteena is a Core Volunteer member and a lead on the Small Business Relations Committee for RTWR. They live on the border between Tukwila and Renton, with a fondness for the Farmers Markets and local shops in both towns. After experiencing the success and positive impacts of Tukwila's minimum wage campaign, it only made sense for her to help carry that momentum into Renton.

  • Chanpreet Singh

    FIELD COMMITTEE BOARD LIAISON

    Chanpreet (he/him) is a member of Raise the Wage Renton’s Steering Committee and the Electoral Working Group Co-Chair of Seattle DSA. He believes deeply that Renton workers deserve a living wage and we must raise the minimum wage to overcome the current cost of living crisis. Chanpreet primarily works on field organizing for the campaign.

  • Aram F

    AT-LARGE MEMBER

    Aram F. is the treasurer of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Prior to RTWR, he was a volunteer with the Stephanie Gallardo for Congress campaign.

A Broad, Grassroots Campaign

Raise the Wage Renton is a broad coalition with support from many community organizations, labor unions, local businesses, elected officials, and Renton residents and workers. Renton residents and workers from the local chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are coordinating the campaign. DSA is a national democratic organization of working people, with a chapter covering all of King County – you can join as a member to support our work for the long haul!

The campaign is also endorsed by a number of community organizations, unions, elected officials, and Renton residents. You can find a list of endorsers here.

This is a grassroots effort powered by people just like you. DSA is contributing some funds and the campaign gratefully accepts donations here.